US3779252A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tobacco stream manufacture
Assignee: Rothmans Benson and Hedges Inc
•
Filing: 1971-09-03
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Granted: 1973-12-18
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Expires: 1991-09-03
Abstract
Abstract A tobacco manipulating apparatus for formation of a tobacco filler rod for use in the formation of cigarettes includes a relatively thin and flat chute, a tobacco particle gatherer located adjacent the discharge of the chute and a relatively flat elongated conveyor to receive tobacco from the gatherer. The gatherer includes a plurality of rotatable discs mounted across the width of the chute and each having substantially the same diameter and including a tobacco receiving peripheral surface in the plane of the chute. A source of vacuum is connected to each disc and vacuum interrupter is provided to prevent the application of vacuum over part of the surface of each disc. In this way a plurality of narrow substreams is formed from a broad stream of such particles in the chute. The narrow substreams are deposited sequentially and tangentially of the discs into the filler rod on the conveyor, the discs being mounted so that a straight line through their axes of rotation is inclined in a downstream direction with respect to the conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 W Brackmann
- 👤 Ianni D Di
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 13:38
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24C; A24C5/00; A24C5/14; A24C5/18; A24C5/1814
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
A tobacco manipulating apparatus which comprises means to feed a broad stream of tobacco particles, gathering means comprising a plurality of shallow cylindrical discs positioned adjacent a discharge end of said feed means to collect and convey a plurality of narrow tobacco substreams, each of said discs having substantially the same diameter and having a peripheral wall including an air-permeable, tobacco-impermeable surface and being rotated about its axis, each of said walls having an external surface to form a narrow substream of tobacco particles from said broad stream, each of said discs being hollow and the interior thereof having a pressure that is less than atmospheric, vacuum interrupting means positioned to prevent the application of said pressure over a selected arcuate length of each of said peripheral surfaces; and a conveying surface located adjacent said gathering means outside of said feed means to receive said plurality of tobacco substreams from said gathering means to form thereon a narrow stream of tobacco particles; a straight line joining the axes of rotation of said plurality of discs being inclined with respect to the conveying surface such that the substreams received from each of said discs onto the conveying surface is substantially tangential to said disc and to the top surface of said narrow stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
A tobacco manipulating apparatus which comprises means to feed a broad stream of tobacco particles, gathering means comprising a plurality of shallow cylindrical discs positioned adjacent a discharge end of said feed means to collect and convey a plurality of narrow tobacco substreams, each of said discs having substantially the same diameter and having a peripheral wall including an air-permeable, tobacco-impermeable surface and being rotated about its axis, each of said walls having an external surface to form a narrow substream of tobacco particles from said broad stream, each of said discs being hollow and the interior thereof having a pressure that is less than atmospheric, vacuum interrupting means positioned to prevent the application of said pressure over a selected arcuate length of each of said peripheral surfaces; and a conveying surface located adjacent said gathering means outside of said feed means to receive said plurality of tobacco substreams from said gathering means to form thereon a narrow stream of tobacco particles; a straight line joining the axes of rotation of said plurality of discs being inclined with respect to the conveying surface such that the substreams received from each of said discs onto the conveying surface is substantially tangential to said disc and to the top surface of said narrow stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vacuum interrupting means is located internally of each of said discs and extends over an arcuate length of each of said peripheral surfaces from the approximate point of nearest approach of said peripheral surface to said conveying surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of said plurality of discs is provided with a peripheral surface having arcuately spaced apart air-permeable portions and said vacuum interrupting means is located internally of said disc and extends over an arcuate length of said peripheral surface from the approximate point of nearest approach of said peripheral surface to said conveying surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including vacuum means to apply vacuum through said conveying surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |